This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers. With her husband gone and her daughter living two time zones away, Nancy quietly suffers alone in her large Texas home after chemotherapy. To bring some change to her isolated life, she decides to temporarily house two Syrian refugees—Ali and his daughter, Sabeen—during their first few days in America. Nancy’s daughter disapproves of her decision—especially since Nancy is in such a fragile physical state. But for Nancy, harboring the refugees is just a small and practical way to help. When the distraught family arrives with few belongings and even fewer words, Nancy becomes embroiled in an intense and unexpected connection that may just help her discover her purpose once again. A moving and uplifting story, Small Practical Help reminds us that we don’t necessarily need to be at our strongest to help those in need.